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Local startup BlackbookHR is getting a big shot of national recognition for its cloud-based software.

Human Resource Executive Magazine has chosen BlackbookHR’s Sense software as one of its 10 top human resources products for 2013. Sense helps human resources executives measure, track and improve employee engagement. The goal is to prevent voluntary turnover and retain top talent.

Sense includes analytics tools that help employees connect to the people and information that matter most to them in the places where they work and live.

That information helps employers better understand the interests and needs of their employees.

The platform leverages more than a decade of research by Dr. Brooks Holtom at Georgetown University.

“This year’s products were evaluated on innovation, value, intuitiveness and on the ability to deliver what it promises,” said David Shadovitz, editor of Human Resource Executive.

BlackbookHR CEO Chris Ostoich said the award is a “major, major milestone” for the company he started in 2007.

BlackbookHR has extensive relationships with companies in this region and is currently expanding into new cities. Its investors include CincyTech, the Downtown-based public-private seed-stage investor.

“Almost overnight the world will know we exist,” Ostoich said. “Most of the companies that win this are publicly traded, or the product was started by somebody like Oracle.